City of Lawrence

Traffic Safety Commission Agenda

October 6, 2008-7:00 PM       

City Commission Room, City Hall

ITEM NO. 3:           Consider request for a MARKED CROSSWALK on 19^th Street at Alabama Street.

                             Facts:

1. The city recently constructed a continuous sidewalk along the north side of 19^th Street from Louisiana Street to Alabama Street; there is not a sidewalk along the north side west of Alabama Street.

2. There is a continuous sidewalk along the south side of the street from Louisiana Street to Naismith Drive.

3. 19^th Street is classified as a “minor arterial,” is a two-lane street and carries approximately 11,000 vehicles per day.

4. Area crash reports show one pedestrian crash at 19^th & Indiana in 2005.

5. A recent nationwide crosswalk study found that under similar conditions, a marked crosswalk does not provide any safety benefit.

6. This Commission and the City Commission recently approved a marked crosswalk on a similar street (Louisiana), but only in conjunction with a pedestrian refuge island.

ACTION:  Provide recommendation to the City Commission.

City of Lawrence

Traffic Safety Commission

October 6, 2008 Minutes

ITEM NO. 3:

Consider request for a MARKED CROSSWALK on 19th Street at Alabama

Street.

David Woosley presented the information provided in the staff report.

Public comment:

Betty Alderson, 1920 Maine Street: I recently walked down the new sidewalk along the north side of 19th Street and found when I got to Alabama Street it didn’t go anywhere and there is no protective way to cross 19th Street, of any kind, between Louisiana and Naismith; it would be helpful to have a crossing for people who are walking, and if we are going to encourage that, we need to look at how we get people from one side of the street to the other.

Commissioner Miller: I’m concerned that we’d be putting down a crosswalk that would provide a false sense of security.

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer: I would agree; we’ve had this situation several times; if we don’t put in a light or refuge island, I’m afraid we’d have someone walk across the street and believe a car is going to stop.

Commissioner Harden: I agree; a crosswalk with 11,000 vehicles a day crossing it in an unprotected way is not the greatest public policy.

Commissioner Smith: I understand where Betty’s coming from, but I don’t think it really warrants doing anything at this point; but that is an awfully long stretch from Louisiana to Naismith; except during peak periods, there is usually ample opportunities to get across 19th Street.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WOODS, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST FOR A MARKED CROSSWALK ON 19TH STREET AT ALABAMA STREET; THE MOTION CARRIED (6-0).